HAIL AND FAREWELL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 9

HAIL AND FAREWELL.

MR. FORBES OFF TO ENGLAND. Auckland's Cordial Welcome to Prime Minister on First, Brief Visit. NEW ZEALAND'S LEADER EXPRESSES GRATITUDE.

New Zealand s Prime Minister was most warmly welcomed to Auckland this morning, and his stay was so short that in the same breath he was farewelled.

The civic reception to Mr. Forbes and his party was enthusiastic, representative of all parties, and the Premier was assured that he had the confidence and good wishes of everyone in the Dominion.

On the wharf there was a United party farewell, and at the ship's side the enthusiasm was remarkable, the only discordant note being an abortive attempt by some unemployed to force the barriers, evidently bent on a hostile demonstration.

SCENE AT WHARF.

PRIME MINISTER SAILS.

VOCIFEROUS FAREWELLS.

UNEMPLOYED DEMONSTRATE,

JIB. FORBES' PARTING SPEECH.

Amidst a babel of confused noises, the Prime Minister, the Hon. G. W. Forbes, and party boarded the K.M.m.s. Aorangi at a little after half-past eleven this morning. A email party of unemployed were waving a hostile banner and indulging in catcalls and boos; Mr. Forbes' friends were holding streamers and cheering; a Salvation Army choir, farewelling" some of their own, were singing a variety of hymns; and a group of athletes on deck were yodelling to the crowd on the wharf, who made a response trjat was noisier stiil. A small party oi theatrical girls standing on deck laden vith bouquets, kewpie dolls, and other favours, added a picturesque touch, and the vociferousness of their falsetto larevells to a crowd of admirers could be heard above the general din. Junior oncers and other members of the ship's i-ompanv from the boat deck soberly looked on with sardonic grins—thinking perhaps that in a few hours, when the Hnd-locked harbour was cleared, quiet would reign supreme.

Mr. Forbes was delightfully unperturbed. Although this is his first journey overseas to far distant lands, his demeanour was as modest as his smile was ingratiating. He took no notice of the "counting out" and other signs of hostility from a email section, and waved to friends and enemies alike. He stood ok the gangway for some minutes with Mrs. Forbes, but when Sir Thomas and lady Sidey had made their way to his side, the party walked, on deck. The Prime 'Minister took up a position of "vantage at the rails, threw streamers and held the ends, while the Aorangi, blowing her siren, slowdv backed into the stream. Thus commenced his voyage to the councils of Empire in London.

As far as going to the conference was roneeraed. said Mr. Forbes, party politics had been dropped, and all parties iad joined in the wish .that he should attend. Party warfare was put on one side to efcable New Zealand to be represented;!, This was a striking illustration of the hearts of the people in so far as their attachment to the Mother Country was concerned. There would always be the same strong bond between Sew Zealand and the Homeland. The last few weeks had been difficult. He bad wondered what the members of his en party had felt when he brought down tax after tax. He was glad that people of New Zealand had recognised that what was done was necessary.

. "We had to face facts," he continued, "and the only way to overcome the difficulties the country was faced with *as to look the problems straight in ftp face and devise the remedy. I ftiok that has been accepted by the people." (Applause.) fcir Thomas Sidey made a short speech. It would be akin to painting uie lily, he said, if he attempted to 'fflprove on what the Prime Minister had said.